John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Before I start, I welcome Councillor Paddy McQuillan. He and I served together on Louth County Council. Although he is from Drogheda and I am from Dundalk, I will not hold that against him. He is a great representative for Drogheda and he is here as a guest of Senator Craughwell.

The issue I wish to talk about is as a result of a meeting I had with Paul and Niamh Brady in Dundalk last week. They have recently set up the Drive Virtual Driving Academy. I had a good opportunity to try it out. It is incredible and is exactly what I said: a virtual driving academy. It gives people the option to learn how to drive a car virtually a couple of times before having to go out on the road for the first time, whether they are 16, 17, 18 or 19 and learning how to drive, an older person in life or, as in some situations I have seen, a person coming back from a very severe medical situation such as a brain haemorrhage where it is difficult to learn how to drive again and it can be daunting to get back into a car on the road for the first time. The concept of virtual driving is that it is bespoke, realistic, impressive and gives a really good feel for it. It allows people to build up their confidence virtually and in a safe manner before going out onto the road themselves. It is a good idea and is something for the future. It is only really starting in Ireland now, but it is being used right around the world.The reason I bring this up today is that I believe it would be really useful if some thought was given to driving licences and how tests operate in this country. You have to do 12 lessons before you can take a test. I believe that one, two or perhaps even three lessons should be done virtually and that these should count towards the 12 required before someone is allowed to go for a test. It would make our roads a lot safer and would make people more confident and at ease. Niamh and Paul Brady are pioneering this technology. I would appreciate it if the Leader were to write to the Road Safety Authority or to speak to the Government about reforming our driving lessons model and introducing virtual lessons.